Seasonal monitoring of Drosophila suzukii and its non-crop hosts in Wuhu,Eastern China

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a serious pest that prefers fresh fruits and is native to Southeast Asia. In our study, apple cider vinegar bait traps were used to capture and monitor the population dynamics of this native pest in Wuhu City, China, from May/June 2017 to May 2018. The research was conducted at 15 locations in two fruit orchards in Wuhu. Traps caught more adults in general in a Meiling blueberry orchard than in a Xicun mixed orchard, and the highest trap counts occurred near harvest time (October). Females had more mature eggs from September to November, and the number of mature eggs declined thereafter. We found several non-crop hosts, which can provide food and reproductive resources for D. suzukii and are common in forests and field margins. By comparing the number of captured adults in the Meiling and Xicun orchards, we found that blueberry was preferred by D. suzukii among the fruits in our search. Fruit ripening times differed among crops; therefore, fly populations moved between crop and non-crop habitats during the year or had varying population dynamics on different crops in different seasons. The D. suzukii population and the number of mature eggs decreased in summer and winter but increased in spring and autumn. Drosophila suzukii had higher survival rates with blueberry than those with other fruits, and D. suzukii could use four non-crop species growing around the orchards as host plants.     

Hysteretic Behavior of Imidacloprid Sorption-Desorption in Soils of Croatian Coastal Regions

Sorption and desorption are important processes that influence the transport, transformation, and bioavailability of imidacloprid in the soils. Equilibrium batch experiments were carried out using six coastal Croatian soils. The equilibrium sorption and desorption experimental data showed the best fit to the Freundlich equation. Sorption parameters predicted with the Freundlich model, K_F ^sor and 1/n ranged from 2.92 to 5.74 (mg/kg)/(mg/L)^1/n, and 0.888 to 0.919, respectively. The sorption of imidacloprid was found to be sensitive to organic carbon (OC) content. The highest sorption was observed in Krk soil (OC 4.74%) and the lowest in Zadar soil (OC 1.06%). Fitted desorption parameter values, K_F ^des , were consistently higher than those associated with sorption. The opposite trend was observed for the exponential parameter 1/n. Results also suggested that imidacloprid sorption-desorption by soil is concentration-dependent, i.e. at lower imidacloprid concentrations a greater sorption percentage and lower desorption percentage occurred. Desorption studies revealed that there was a hysteresis effect in all the tested soils. Hysteresis coefficient values (H) varied from 0.656 to 0.859. The study results emphasize that the controlled application of imidacloprid is obligatory, especially in soils with a low organic carbon content, in order to minimize a risk of environmental and groundwater pollution.     

Postharvest biocontrol of Alternaria alternata in Chinese winter jujube by Rhodosporidium paludigenum

Aims:  This study was conducted to measure the efficacy of the marine antagonist Rhodosporidium paludigenum in the suppression of postharvest decay of Chinese winter jujube caused by Alternaria alternata and to explore the possible mode of action involved.
Methods and Results:  The efficacy of controlling postharvest diseases by R. paludigenum was examined. Rapid yeast colonization of wounds was observed during the first 48 h at 25°C. The yeast at 1 × 10⁸ cells ml⁻¹ of washed cells suspension provided better control of A. alternata than any other treatment. The concentration of the antagonist had significant effects on biocontrol effectiveness: as the concentration of R. paludigenum was increased, the disease incidence decreased. Meanwhile, R. paludigenum significantly inhibited the natural development of decay and did not damage fruit quality parameters including lightness values, hue angle, firmness, soluble solids, ascorbic acid and titratable acidity in 21 days' storage at 25°C.
Conclusions:  Rhodosporidium paludigenum was effective in controlling postharvest decay of Chinese winter jujube and did not impair fruit quality parameters.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Rhodosporidium paludigenum can be used as a nonchemical agent in postharvest biological control of Chinese winter jujube.     

新建果园几种作物间种模式生态系统结构及功能研究

从荒坡地新建果园10多种农作物间种模式中筛选出5种优化模式,分析和评价了各种种植模式的生态系统的结构和功能．结果表明,随着重复种植的增加,5种间种模式土壤有机质年增加5％一20％,全氮年增加7％一40％,全磷年增加8％一70％,全钾年增加15％一80％;水土保持最好的是花生-秋大豆、春大豆-秋大豆,其次为西红柿-白菜、辣椒-西红柿和早稻-红萝卜,土壤平均侵蚀量和地表径流量与对照相比分别降低44．19％、38．24％、39．52％、37．56％、37．30％和22．40％、9．28％、24．11％、21．60％、15．93％;在5种模式中,生物量最高的是辣椒—西红柿,年均达到100276kg.hm^-2,其次是花生-秋大豆,年均达到77026kg.hm^-2;而生产力最高的是花生—秋大豆,达到15619kg.hm^-2,其次是西红柿—白菜,为15394kg.hm^-2;投能效率最高的是辣椒—西红柿,年均达到3．06,其次为西红柿—白菜、花生—秋大豆、春大豆—秋大豆、早稻-红萝卜,分别为2．16、2．15、2．06和0．71．同时,有机、无机能输入效应表明,以生物能为主源输入进行转化利用太阳光能和水土资源,维护了果园生态系统的能量盈余,生态效益较高．     

The effect of three rootstocks on water use, canopy conductance and hydraulic parameters of apple trees and predicting canopy from hydraulic conductance

This study investigated the effect of the dwarfing M9, semi‐dwarfing MM106 and local Hashabi rootstocks on the water use, canopy conductance (G_c) and hydraulic conductance (k) of apple orchards with the same scion, Golden Delicious. The average summer leaf area index (LAI) was 2·4, 2·7 and 1·7 for M9, MM106 and Hashabi, respectively. Irrigation in 1997 was less than water use until June, and excessive afterwards. In 1998, irrigation was doubled, and was excessive throughout the season. Sap flow (J) in June–August 1998 totalled 476, 682 and 606 mm (or 0·60, 0·86 and 0·76 of class A pan evaporation) for M9, MM106 and Hashabi, respectively. Maximum sap velocity in the three rootstocks (approximately 70 cm h^?1) occurred in the outer 30–60% of the stem, and its decrease with depth was greater in M9 than in the other rootstocks. Midday G_c during both summers was least for M9, intermediate for Hashabi and greatest for MM106. The k value of M9 and MM106 for the soil to stem, stem to leaves and soil to leaves pathways were determined from daily courses of water potential of leaves, Ψ_l, stem, Ψ_stem and J. Specific k (k_s, i.e. relative to stem sapwood area) did not significantly differ between the two rootstocks for soil to stem and soil to leaf pathways, but leaf specific k (k_l) was greater for MM106 soil to stem (71% greater) and soil to leaf (63%) pathways, respectively. The inverse slopes of the relationships between midday canopy resistance (R_c) and vapour pressure deficit (D) for MM106 was 1·75 of that for M9, and the ratio of their Huber values, i.e. the ratio of sapwood to leaf area, was 1·6. These findings indicate that differences in water use are attributable to differences in k_l, and not to differences in wood properties (k_s). Application of a model relating R_c to orchard area specific k (k_g) showed that the slope of the relationships between midday R_c and D for the 1998 data could be predicted using common values of k_s (0·134 kg m^?2 s^?1 MPa^?1) and midday Ψ_l (?1·34 MPa) for the three rootstocks. The implications of these findings, and the similarities in the differences between rootstocks of G_c, k_l, k_g and Huber values, are discussed with respect to rootstock water use and irrigation.     

Optimization of pheromone lure and trap design for monitoring the fir coneworm, Dioryctria abietivorella

The major components of the sex pheromone of Dioryctria abietivorella (Groté) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were recently identified as (9Z,11E)‐tetradecadien‐1‐yl acetate (9Z,11E‐14:Ac) and a polyunsaturated, long‐chain hydrocarbon (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)‐pentacosapentaene (C25 pentaene). The optimal ratio of these components and the role of potential minor components were not fully determined in the initial short report on the pheromone's identification. We tested different ratios of the two major components loaded into grey halobutyl rubber septum dispensers, placed in sticky traps deployed in conifer breeding arboreta. The optimal ratio of the two components was 200 µg 9Z,11E‐14:Ac to 2000 µg C25 pentaene. (Z)‐9‐Tetradecen‐1‐yl acetate, which had been identified previously in female pheromone gland extracts, and five other potential minor pheromone components, were tested individually as additions to the optimized two‐component lure blend. None of the ternary blends were more attractive than the optimized two‐component blend, at the ratios tested. Two lure adjuvants, a UV stabilizer (Sumisorb 300) and the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene, added individually or together, did not affect the attractiveness of the optimized lure blend. The Pherotech diamond sticky trap baited with the optimized lure blend was the most effective trap design among eight types of sticky trap and a bucket style trap that were tested. Traps baited with synthetic lures were as attractive as traps baited with virgin female moths. The optimized two‐component lure blend in the Pherotech diamond trap is recommended for monitoring fir coneworm infestations. The availability of an effective synthetic pheromone opens the possibility for control tactics using mating disruption or attract‐and‐kill techniques.     

间作牧草枣林蚧虫群落及其天敌功能团的组成与时空动态

2007年在太谷地区对间种牧草枣林蚧虫群落及其天敌功能团的组成与时空动态的研究结果表明:不同处理枣林蚧虫群落及其天敌功能团的组成、多样性与丰盛度时序动态、时空二位生态位的宽度与重叠以及关联度均有明显(P<0.05)的差异,枣林种草结合有害生物综合管理,不仅有利于天地功能团的保护合理用,而且对蚧虫的控制,改善枣林生态环境均具有促进作用,同时发现种草林的寄生性天敌功能团对枣树蚧虫的控制能力要比未种草枣林强.相关性测定表明,天敌群落学的研究可以用功能团来替代物种而进行,它既能反应各类群间的动态关系,又简化了调查分析工作.     

井冈山森林凋落物分解动态及磷、钾释放速率

应用网袋分解法对井冈山地区亚热带常绿阔叶林、针阔叶混交林和高山矮林地上和地下(10 cm)2个分解组的叶凋落物进行了连续2年的分解试验,测定了凋落物的分解速率以及P、K元素的释放动态.结果表明: 3种林分叶凋落物残留率与时间呈负指数衰减关系.各林分凋落物干质量损失前期较快,第1年末两组平均质量损失率分别为50.6%(常绿阔叶林)、41.7%(针阔叶混交林)和40.13%(高山矮林),且地上组显著高于地下组;后期较慢,至第2年末2组平均质量损失率分别达到60.95%(常绿阔叶林)、57.06%(针阔叶混交林)和56.60%(高山矮林),均以常绿阔叶林、针阔叶混交林、高山矮林为序递减,地上组与地下组的差异不显著.根据Olson指数衰减模型对质量损失率结果进行拟合,发现3种林分样地上凋落物分解95%所需的时间(t_0.95)为6.8～9.9年,其大小排序为常绿阔叶林＜针阔叶混交林＜高山矮林.P在不同林分凋落物分解过程中均存在明显的净固持效应,其强度顺序为高山矮林＞针阔叶混交林＞常绿阔叶林,凋落物初始P含量和C/P可能是导致上述情形的原因.K在各林分的多数时间均表现为净释放.以试验末期的元素释放量计算,P的释放速率在地上组和地下组之间无显著差异,而K则为地上组显著高于地下组.